Working Group Involvement

Latest News and DevelopmentsWheelchair Services
Following recent service user feedback we raised issues with the wheelchair service currently contracted to Millbrook Healthcare. A new Operations Manager has been appointed and Bart is keen to re-start the Northamptonshire Service User Group. Furthermore he is introducing Open Service / Assessment/ Repair Clinics (once a month) at special schools with the possibility to extend this to care homes and local community centres etc.. Please let us know, what you think of this initiative and if you would like to be part of the service user group.

Proposal of Two Unitary Authorities
As some of you may know, the Local Authority is currently reviewing operations in Northamptonshire and it has been suggested to create two unitary authorites in 2020. The suggested geographical divide will be North (Corby, Kettering, Rushden and Wellingborough) and West (Northampton, Daventry, Towcester). We would love to be able to tell you further details but unfortunately we can't, as we don't know. We have asked the question on many occasions but it seems even the senior management within NCC isn't "in the know".

The proposal has sparked lots of concern and uncertainty, so NPFG would like to be pro-active and gather your views, questions and worries and plan to address them formally.

by commenting in our closed Parent Engagement and Discussion Group on Facebook

by coming to one of our "Question Time" events

The first one scheduled for 6th March 2019, 10:00h-12:00h at the Bee Hive, Harborough Road, Kingsthorpe, Northants, NN2 8LR where you can have a chat with a member of the NPFG team over refreshments. Alternatively, please advise

a gathering of Parent/Carers of SEND children and we will come and engage with this group

We look forward to hearing from - or even better seeing - you!

WORKING GROUPS
NPFG has representatives on the following working groups
Please find to follow a list of working groups with a short description including frequency of meetings.
Please communicate any feedback via email to enquiries@npfg.co.uk.
Alternatively you can comment in our closed "Parent Carer Discussion and Engagement Group" on Facebook.

Disabled Children & Young People Delivery Group (DCYPDG)
This is the rather complicated name for the big SEND Board in Northamptonshire. The purpose of this board is to develop plans and proposals within the agreed strategic priorities of NCC and NHS policies. To research, develop and oversee the implementation action plan. This will include commissioning services that support the delivery of the plan. Parent/Carer views and feedback are an essential part of this process. The meetings are held bi-monthly

Transport Focus Group
This group reports to the Transport commissioner and SEN transport managers which have overall accountability for delivering SEN transport where applicable in Northamptonshire. Meetings are held on a quarterly basis giving the opportunity to discuss any upcoming changes, suggest feasible improvements and discuss common issues raised by parents to be able to problem solve.

Short Breaks Board
A substantial programme of transformation work has been undertaken to develop the Short Breaks Service in Northamptonshire. The remit of the Board has been established to allow parents to be part of the decision-making process and to ensure scrutiny and transparency of the work. Meetings are held monthly and are attended by Northamptonshire County Council, both Clinical Commissioning Groups, NPFG reps as well as parent carers that access teh Residential Short Break Service.

SEND Curriculum Work stream
This group was formed following the SEND 20:20 Vision events in 2017. The primary function is to identify employment pathways for young people and to ensure the education providers are teaching meaningful skills for employment. The intention is for the group to include representatives from schools, colleges, independent education providers, charity sector, Prospects, DWP, parents and the EHC team to bring together a comprehensive pathway to get the right provision of post 16 education to eventually lead to employment wherever possible.

LD Transforming Care Operational Delivery Group
This group reports to the LD Transformation Board which has overall accountability for delivering a transformation of the Learning Disability Services in Northamptonshire. Meetings are held bi-monthly with feedback from work streams looking at: Care, Education and Treatment Reviews, Workforce Strategy, Admissions to Hospital, Integrated Teams for adults with LD & LD Pathway, Forensic LD/ASD Pathway, All Age ASD Strategy and Pathway, Joint Commissioning, Mortality Programme, Communication and Transitions.

Autism Implementation Group
This group follows on from the Northamptonshire Autism Strategy Steering Group. It is working on a specific Autism Website and the 5 main priorities from the Strategy. The group is led by Louise Kirby lead practitioner Autism with NHFT and comprises expertise from parents of children with ASD, lived experience, professionals and stakeholders. From 2019 meetings will be held monthly for all the priorities to be discussed together.

Carers Partnership
This working group is meeting monthly, hosted by Northamptonshire Carers and chaired by Mark Major, CEO of Northamptonshire Carers. The meeting is attended by senior members of Northamptonshire Carers, Health and NCC personnel working with carers as well as representatives from voluntary sector organisation such as Age Concern, Dementia UK. NPFG is attending this meeting to ensure the voice of Parent Carers has an input. We are signposting parent carers in crisis to the Northamptonshire Carers Helpline and promote health and wellbeing activities for carers to sustain their caring role. Feedback sessions from the Helpline enables us to paint a clearer picture and gather evidence on the issues and challenges parent carers are facing which feed into other work streams such as the DCYPDG. NPFG has campaigned for a disabled children’s sitting service which is currently being trial-ed. Recent agenda items have been the Transforming Care initiative and Angela Hillery, Chief Executive of Northamptonshire Healthcare Trust has been a guest speaker.